avatarDr Emmanuel Ogamdi

Summary

The article explores the subjective nature of life's value through a parable about a boy and a unique stone, and philosophical musings on what makes life worth living.

Abstract

The narrative begins with a boy who discovers a distinctive stone and seeks to understand its value. Through interactions with various individuals, he learns that the stone's worth is perceived differently by each person, mirroring the subjective nature of value in life. Philosophers like Nietzsche and Schopenhauer have long pondered the meaning of life, suggesting that it is a deeply personal question without a universal answer. The article suggests that life's meaning is as varied as individuals themselves, with some finding purpose in religion, happiness, love, or work, while others may find no meaning at all. It concludes that the meaning of life is a question each person must answer for themselves.

Opinions

  • The value of things, much like the meaning of life, is subjective and varies greatly from person to person.
  • Philosophical inquiry into the meaning of life has been a longstanding pursuit, with differing viewpoints from various thinkers.
  • The meaning of life is not one-size-fits-all; it is deeply personal and can be influenced by one's experiences, beliefs, and circumstances.
  • The article implies that individuals have the autonomy to define what makes their own life worth living, rather than adhering to a prescribed set of values or goals.
  • The parable of the stone serves as a metaphor for the diversity of perspectives and the importance of personal judgment in determining worth.

What Makes a Life Worth Living?

Ask a philosopher

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

Once there was a boy who used to play by throwing stones into the lake. Suddenly, he saw a very beautiful stone which was different from other normal stones and he started staring at it. He immediately thought he would show that to his father and know what that is and why it is different. He came home and showed it to his father. His father asked him “What do you want to do with this?” He responded, „I want to play with this stone but it looks very different so I want to find out how special it is”.

His father asked him to take the stone and go to anyone, tell them you want to sell the stone and show them just five fingers. Do not tell them anything else, come back to me and let me know what their response was. The boy got curious and ran to the streets. He got one person and showed them the stone, the person asked him about the price, and the boy as insisted by his father, showed 5 fingers. The person said — OK, two dollars! The boy ran home to his father and told him that someone wanted to buy the stone for five dollars. The father smiled at the boy and asked him to go to some shop and try selling this. The boy agreed and went to some shops. One of the shopkeepers asked the price and the boy showed him 5 fingers. The shopkeeper said 50 dollars! The boy again ran to his father and told him that one of the shopkeepers wanted to buy it for 50 dollars. Again his father smiled and asked him to go to some antique/ gem shop. The boy did the same. He went to one of the gem shops and showed them the stone, the owner started analyzing the stone carefully and asked the boy about the details like where did he find the stone, when did he find it, and so on. The boy got confused as to why the owner was asking so many questions just for a stone. The owner became happy seeing the stone and asked the boy about the price, he showed 5 fingers and guess what, the owner was ready to buy it for 5000 dollars as it was a previous stone which the boy found which cannot be found 1000s of miles away. The boy was completely shocked and he immediately ran to his father and narrated the sequence. His father told him, did you understand what happened?

The stone was one but every person was quoting the value differently. Everyone cannot value the same way you are valuing it. It is the same with LIFE as well…

As narrated by Swarupa Paul

Philosophers such as Nietzsche and Arthur Schopenhauer have deliberated about the meaning of life for a long time. To talk about the meaning of life is to ask the question; what makes life worth living?

Is it religion?

Is it the pursuit of happiness?

Is it love?

Is it your work and career?

Or does nothing at all make life worth living?

Whatever your answer, it only applies to you because the meaning of life is subjective. We all have different lives, and we all find meaning differently.

What is the meaning of life and what makes life worth living? — this is a question that only you can answer.

Life
Culture
Happiness
Religion
Psychology
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